Automobile direction signal



Oct, 7. 1924. '1 1,510,905

' J. SCHWOERER AUTOMOBILE nmscnou SIGNAL Filed March 20. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (lschwoerer [Mia MW ATTORNEY Oct. 7 1924. 7 1,510,905

' J. SCHWOERER AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed March 20. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR JSchwoerer ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

JOHNSCHWO'ERER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Application filed. March 20, 1924. Serial No. 700,527.

To all whom 2'25 may concern."

Be it known that 1, JOHN SoHwoERER, a citizen of the United States, residing at v New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Direction Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The main objectof this invention is to 7 provide a direction indicating device convenient to use on vehicles or the like.

Another object is to provide a signalling device in which a pair of semaphores are used, said semaphores being actuated by springs and released by pressure on push buttons.

Still another object is to provide means on the semaphore members whereby the latter may be quickly rotated into inactive I position after accomplishing their performance.

These and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which j v1ce.

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary-elevational view of the modified type of signalling device. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view thru the casing of the modified type of device, showing the semaphore locked in extended position. 1

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the floating sleeve used in the modified type of signalling device- I Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the semaphores used in the preferred form of signalling device.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral-1O indicates an automobile or other vehicle to the side ofwhich a bracket 11 isattached, said bracket serving as a stand for the signalling device. The signalling device comprises a pair of semaphores 12 I and 13 on the front face of which the letters R and L are engraved and are indicative of right and left hand directions, each semaphore blade having adjacent the letter an arrow head pointing to the specified dire'ction. The semaphores are provided with arms 14 and 15 which are mounted on a shaft 16. The ends 17 of the arms are substantially circular in outline and are provided with projecting ears 18. A slot 19 is formed on the peripheral wall 20 of the casing 21, said slot being of such length to permit movement of the arms 14 and 15 from the vertical to a horizontal position. The circular portion 17 of the arm 14 has a sleeve 22 thru which a pin 23 passes, ,the latter rigidly securing the entire semaphore to the shaft. The circular portion 17 of the arm 15 also is provided with a sleeve 24 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 16. An additional sleeve 25 extends from and is integral with the sleeve 24. The extension sleeve passes thru the cover 2.6 of the casing and is provided with small openings 27 which extend diametrically thru the sleeve 25. To the extending end of the sleeve 25,

a knurled knob 28 is fitted, the latter being 0 permanently secured in said sleeve by a pin 29.' The shaft 16 is rotatably mounted and passes thru the casing and cover. The end of'said shaft'which projects thru the casing and beyond the sleeve 25 has an additional smaller knob 30 secured thereto by a pin 31.

A resilient plate 32 whichv extends substantially horizontalin the casing has one end secured to the bottom of said casing, its opposite end being curved to lie flush with one face. of the circular: portion 17 of the arm 14. Intermediate the lengthof this plate, a latch pin 33 projects from the face of said plate and is adapted to register in an opening 34 formed in the circular portion 17 of the arm 14 when the semaphore 12 is in vertical position. Another resilient plate 35 has'its lower end securely attached to the cover 26- and extends vertically upward, lying flush-on the surface of the circular portion 17 of the arm 15. This plate also is provided with a pin 36 which extends from the surface of the plate and registers in'an opening 37 when the semaphore 13 is in vertical position. The ears 18 which extend from the peripheral edges of the portions 17 of the semaphore arms have one end of coiled springs 38 secured thereto, the opposite ends of said springs being secured to the peripheral wall 20 of the casing. 110

The free end of the plate 85 is engaged by a plunger 39 which has a button head 40 at its upper end, said upper end projecting from the cover 26 of the casing. A similar plunger 41 engages the free end of the plate 32 and is also provided with a button head 42.

In the modified form of device shown in Figures 4 and 5, av similar casing is used and the arm 43 to which the semaphore 44 is attached, is rotatably mounted on a floating member 45, the latter being provided with a circular flange 46 from the face of which, a. latch pin 47 projects. The semi-circular end 48 of the arm 43 has a sleeve 49 which is mounted on the collar 45 of the flange element 46. Said collar is slidably mounted on a shaft 50 which has its lower end secured to the cover 26 of the casin A spring 51, wound about the lower end of the shaft 50, supports the flange element 46 and normally urges the latter upwardly. The collar 45 of the flange element 46 is provided with diametral longitudinal slots 52 in which the ends of a pin 53 is registered. Said pin extends diametrically thru the shaft 50 near its upper end. The upper end of the collar 45 is closed by a hemispherical member 54 which is securely fastened to its upper edge.

The device when in use ordinarily has the semaphore blades 12 and 13 arranged in vertical position; that is, in the position as.

indicated by the semaphore 12 in Figure 2. When it is desired to signal that the vehicle is to turn in a certain direction, either of the button heads 40 or 42 is depressed. When it is desired to turn left, the semaphore 13 is lowered. This is accomplished by depressing the button head 40 which causes the plunger to engage the upper end of resilient plate 35 and lower the latter so that the pin 36 on said plate 35 will be disengaged from the opening 37. As this disengagement is accomplished, the spring 38, which is tensioned when the semaphores are in vertical position, will rotate the arm 14 by virtue of its being connected to the ear 18 of the stated arm. This will cause the semaphore 13 to be arcuately rotated in the slot 19 until it comes to rest in the hori Zontal plane. Likewise, when it is desired to rotate the semaphore 12 from the vertical to the horizontal position, the button 42 is depressed, thus causing the plunger to lower the plate 32 so that the pin 33 will be disengaged from the corresponding opening 34 after Which the spring actuating the end of the arm 14 will begin to rotate that semaphore. When returning the semaphores from the horizontal to the vertical position, knobs 28 and 80 are rotated, the knob 28, being connected to the sleeve 25 which in turn is rigid with the arm of the semaphore 13, will when rotated lift the latter as the sleeve is a hinged extension of the arm 15. Likewise, the knob being securely pinned to the shaft 16, will cause the arm 14 and semaphore 12 to be lifted to vertical position. This is accomplished by manually rotating either of the knobs inclependently. In the modified form of device, when it is desired to rotate the semaphore from the vertical to the horizontal position, member 54 is depressed, thus lowering the collar and flange 46 so that the latch pin 47 will be disengaged from the opening 47 permitting the arm to rotate free and with the aid of gravity from the vertical to the horizontal position. hen arrived at the horizontal position, the pin 47 on the flange 46 will again register in an opening 47 thus locking the semaphore 44 in both the horizontal and vertical positions. In order to return the semaphore 44 to the vertical position, member 54 must be depressed in order to release the latch pin 47 from the. opening 47 As the shaft of the modi fied type is fixed to the collar 26 and again rotated, the collar 45 is slotted and the pin 53, which extends thru the shaft 50, engages in the slots 52 of the collar in order to prevent the latter and the flange from being rotated.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, an arm fixed to said shaft, an additional arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, semaphores on said arms, said arms having openings therein, springs secured to the arms of the casing and adapted to rotate said arms from the vertical to the horizontal position, and means for locking the arms in vertical position by engaging said openmgs.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, an arm fixed to said shaft, an additional arm rot-atably mounted on said shaft, semaphores on said arms, said arms having openings therein, springs secured to the arms of the casing and adapted to rotate said arms from the vertical to the horizontal position, resilient plate members having one end secured to the casing, means on said plates for engaging the arm openings to re tain said arms in vertical position, and means for depressing said plates to disengage the locking means from the arm mem bers.

3. A device of the class described comprising a. casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, an arm fixed to said shaft, an additional arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, semaphores on said arms, said arms having openings therein, springs secured to the arms of the casing and adapted to rotate said arms from the vertical to the horizontal position, resilient plate members having one end secured to the casing, latch pins projecting from said plates intermediate their length and adapted to engage the openings in said arms when the semaphores are in vertical position, and plungers slidably mounted in said casing and adapted to engage the free ends of theresilient plates and lower the latter, said plates when lowered being adapted to disengage the pins from the openings in said arms, and means for returning the semaphores from the horizontal to the vertical position.

4:. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, an arm fixed to said shaft, an additional arm rotatably mounted on said shaft; semaphores on said arms, said arms having openings therein, springs secured to the arms of the casing and adapted to rotate said arms from the vertical to the horizontal position, resilient plate members having one end secured to the casing, latch pins pro-,

jecting from said plates intermediate their length and adapted to engage the openings in said arms when the semaphores are in vertical position, and plungers slidably tional knob adjacent the first-named knob secured to said shaft, said knobs when rotated being adapted to swing said semaphores from the horizontal to the vertical position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JOHN SOHWOERER. 

